Apparatus for forming bundles of tobacco leaves



Dec. 13, 1960 s. BENNING ETAL 2,964,043

APPARATUS FOR FORMING BUNDLES OF TOBACCO LEAVES Original Filed July 16,1953 4 INVENTOR. W Jamaal Bemvilzga ATTORAEYS 21 B LowwEBacon APPARATUSFOR FORNIING BUNDLES OF TOBACCD LEAVES Samuel Banning, 655 S. HainesAve, and Louis E. Bacon, 25 Catherine Lane, both of Alliance, Ohio 7Claims. (Cl. 131-149) The invention relates to apparatus for formingbundles or hands, as they are commonly known in the industry, of tobaccoleaves by placing the desired number of leaves together and winding aleaf or other binding strip around the stems of the bundles, and presentapplication is a division of our copending application, Serial No.368,430, filed July 16, 1953, now Patent No. 2,809,641, issued October15, 1957.

Tobacco leaves are customan'ly bound into bundles or hands by thetobacco planter and grower, and are ordinarily sold in this form.Heretofore, this binding of the tobacco leaves into bundles or hands hasbeen performed by hand at a considerable cost in labor and time.-

In carrying out this operation manually, the desired number of tobaccoleaves to form a bundle are gathered together in a bunch, with the stemslocated parallel and coextensive with each other, and a binding leaf isthen wound tightly around the stems of the bunch, producing a bundle orhand of tobacco leaves.

This is not only a tedious and time-consuming job, but becomes quitestrenuous and tiring, as it involves considerable strain upon the handsand arms of the workman in holding the collected stems of the bunch ofleaves tightly together with one hand and tightly winding the bindingleaf around the stems with the other hand.

The present invention has for an object the provision of mechanicalmeans for quickly, easily and efficiently bundling tobacco leaves intohands, thereby not only greatly reducing the labor cost but alsorelieving the workers from physical discomfort and strain.

Another object is to provide for the bundling of tobacco leaves byrolling the collected stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves along a surfaceand simultaneously winding a binding leaf around the stems.

A further object is to provide apparatus for bundling tobacco leaves,comprising an elongated bed having a transverse recess at each end, aflexible apron connected at opposite ends to the bed, and a rolleradapted to rotate on an axis movable longitudinally over the bed, theflexible belt having a certain amount of slack which is taken up by theroller and leaves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a device inwhich the bed is of arcuate form and the roller is mounted to travel inan arcuate path over the bed.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred tohaving a stop disc upon one end of the roller for contacting the ends ofthe stems of the bunch of tobacco leaves to maintain them insubstantially coextensive relation, throughout the bundling or bindingoperation.

A further object is to provide an elastic, or elastically mountedflexible apron in a device of the character referred to.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and followingdescription, may be attained, the above described difficulties overcomeand the advantages and tes atent results obtained, by the apparatus,construction, arrangement and combinations, subcombinations and partswhich comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which,illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplatedapplying the principle, being set forth in detail in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention forbinding tobacco leaves into bundles or hands, showing the start of theoperation;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the apparatus showing the endof a bundling or binding operation; and

Fig. 41s a larger scale perspective view of a bound bundle or hand oftobacco leaves as formed upon the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, an apparatus is shown comprising a frame indicatedgenerally at 10 provided with an arcuate bed 11 terminating at oppositeends in the recesses 12 and 13.'

A flexible apron 14, which is of greater length than the bed 11, isshown fixed to the frame at one end, as indicated at 15, and the otherend may extend through a slot 16 in the bed. This other end of the apronhas a connection 17 secured thereto for attachment to one end of :a coilspring 18, the other end of the spring being connected to one end of aturnbuckle 19 which is secured to the central lug '20 of the frame orbase. The apron 14 may thus be adjusted in length with any desiredamount of tension thereon. The apron may be thus elastically mountedupon the bed, or may be formed of elastic material.

' A roller 21 is journalled upon a shaft 22 carried by the lever 23.This lever is fulcrumed as at 24 upon the central lug 20 of the frame,and is provided at its outer end with a hand grip portion 25 by means ofwhich the lever may be manually operated to move the roller 21 in anarcuate path over the bed 11, from one end thereof to the other, that isfrom the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, and viceversa.

For the purpose of maintaining the ends of the leaf stems coextensiveduring the binding and bundling operation, a stop in the form of a disc26 may be mounted upon one end portion of the shaft 22 of the roller insuch a manner as to move therewith adjacent to that side of the bed 11.

-A clip 27 may be provided upon one end of the shaft 22 to hold theapron in line on the roller and to assist in holding the apron down uponthe roller in better position to receive a bundle of leaves.

As disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 368,430, whichissued as Patent No. 2,809,641, of which this application is a division,guide troughs may be provided for the purpose of guiding a binder leafaround the stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves. These troughs arepreferably of funnel shape, as shown in the drawings, and are indicatedgenerally at 30 and 31.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 these funnel shape guide troughs convergetoward their lower ends and may have the longitudinal openings 32 alongtheir opposed sides. As shown in the drawings, the converging lower endsof the guide troughs 30 and 31 are disposed slightly below and onopposite sides of the roller 21, so as to guide the binder leaf onto theapron, substantially tangential to and around the bunch of stems.

Each of these funnel-shape troughs 30 and 31 has an arcuate back orbottom wall 33, the opposite side edges of which converge downwardly,and the opposed flanges 34 which extend toward each other to thelongitudinal opening 32 forming guide flanges by means of which a binderleaf passing downwardly into the smaller end of either funnel, will befolded into a binding strip and directed tangentially to the stems of abunch of tobacco leaves placed upon the apron.

The guide troughs 30 and 31 are carried upon the bracket arms 29 whichare secured to the lever 23 above the stop disc 26, and project inopposite directions therefrom.

In operating the machine to form bundles or hands of tobacco leaves, therequired number of leaves L are placed together in a bunch, with thestems S thereof held together in bundles, as shown in the drawings.

This bundle of stems is placed in the loop or pocket P of the apron 14,located in either recess 12 or 13 at either end of the bed 11, as shownin Fig. 1, with the ends of the stems butted against the stop disc 26.

As shown in Fig. l, the roller 21 is located at the right hand end ofthe bed 11, with the bundle of leaf stems S inserted into the pocket Pof the apron, between the roller 21 and the recess 13 of the bed.

A binder leaf is then selected and fed, tip end forward, into the upperopen end of the trough or funnel on the side of the roller 21 adjacentto the bed 11. As shown in Pig. 1, the roller is located at the righthand end of the bed with the bundle of leaf stems S inserted into thepocket of the apron between the roller and the recess 13 of the bed.

In that position of the bed the binder leaf indicated at B is insertedinto the upper open end of the trough or funnel 30 at the left side ofthe roller, as viewed in Fig. l. The lever 23 is then operated to movethe roller 21 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, toward the opposite endof the bed.

During this operation the binder leaf B is folded as it is passed downthrough the funnel or trough from the tip end thereof, being advancedtoward the apron, substantially tangential to the bundle of stem S sothat as the roller 21 advances toward the other end of the bed 11, thisbinding leaf may be wrapped around the stems S.

After the bundle or hand of tobacco leaves is ejected from the machine,the stem end of the binder leaf B may be tucked into the space betweenthe stem or leaves in conventional manner, forming a bundle or hand oftobacco leaves as shown in Fig. 4.

The operation may be repeated by placing another bunch of leaves in themachine with the stems thereof located in the pocket of the apron formedbetween the roller and the recess 12, and the lever 23 operated in theopposite direction, moving the roller to the right hand end of the bed.At the same time a binder leaf is inserted in the right hand guidetrough or funnel 3i, and a bundle is formed and ejected from the machineat the right hand end thereof.

It will be seen that throughout the operation the stop disc 26 willmaintain the ends of the stems of the bunch of leaves substantiallycoextensive. It will also be obvious that the binding or bundling oftobacco leaves into hands or bundles may be very quickly and easilyperformed, the only manual steps required being the insertion of abinder leaf into the trough at the beginning of each operation and themanual movement of the lever from one end of the bed to the other, andthe removal of the bundle or hand from the machine and tucking under ofthe end of the binder leaf stem at the completion of each operation.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes therein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and usefulconstructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious tothose skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising a bedhaving at each end a transversely disposed recess, a flexible apron ofgreater length than the bed extending longitudinally above the bed,means connecting opposite ends of the apron to opposite ends of the bed,the means connecting one end of the apron to the bed including aresilient member, a roller mounted to rotate above the bed and engagingthe underside of the apron, and forming a transverse pocket therein,means for moving the roller longitudinally over the bed for carryingsaid pocket over the bed by said roller, means mounted upon each side ofthe roller to move with the roller above the apron for guiding a bindingstrip between the apron and the stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves whenthe roller is moved in either direction, and

stop means adjacent one side of the bed for contacting the ends of thestems of a bunch of tobacco leaves rolled in said pocket, andmaintaining the stems coextensive with each other, the other side of thebed being unobstructed throughout its entire length.

2. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising a bedhaving at each end a transversely disposed recess, a flexible apron ofgreater length than the bed extending longitudinally above the bed,means connecting opposite ends of the apron to opposite ends of the bed,the means connecting one end of the apron to the bed including aresilient member, a roller mounted to rotate above the bed and engagingthe underside of the apron, and forming a transverse pocket therein,means for moving the roller longitudinally over the bed for carryingsaid pocket over the bed by said roller, means mounted upon each side ofthe roller to move with the roller above the apron for guiding a bindingstrip between the apron and the stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves whenthe roller is moved in either direction, a stop disc carried at one endof the roller adjacent one side of the bed for contacting the ends ofthe stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves rolled in said pocket andmaintaining the stems coextensive with each other, the other side of thebed being unobstructed throughout its entire length.

3. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising aframe, an arcuate bed upon the frame, said bed having a transverselydisposed recess at each end thereof, a flexible apron of greater lengththan the bed and extending longitudinally above the bed, meansconnecting one end of the apron to the adjacent end of the bed, therebeing an opening in the other end of the bed, the other end of the apronbeing located through said opening, a resilient member connecting saidother end of the apron to the frame below said bed, a roller mounted torotate above the bed and engaging the underside of the apron and forminga transverse pocket therein, means for moving the roller longitudinallyover the bed for carrying said pocket over the bed by said roller, adownwardly and rearwardly angled funnel movable with the roller forguiding a binding strip between the apron and the stems of a bunch oftobacco leaves in said pocket, and stop means adjacent one side of thebed for contacting the ends of the stems of a bunch of tobacco leavesrolled in said pocket and maintaining the stems coextensive with eachother, the other side of the bed being unobstructed throughout itsentire length.

4. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising aframe, a bed upon the frame, said bed having a transversely disposedrecess at each end thereof, a flexible apron of greater length than thebed and extending longitudinally above the bed, means connecting one endof the apron to the adjacent end of the bed, there being an opening inthe other end of the bed, the other end of the apron being locatedthrough said opening, a resilient member connecting said other end ofthe apron to the frame below said bed, a lever fulcrumed upon the frameat one side of the bed, a transversely disposed shaft carried by thelever, a roller journalled upon said shaft to rotate above the bed, saidroller engaging the underside of the apron and forming a transversepocket therein, said lever being arranged for moving the rollerlongitudinally over the bed for carrying said pocket over the bed by theroller, a stop disc carried by the shaft adjacent to the lever forcontacting the ends of the stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves rolled insaid pocket and maintaining the stems coextensive with each other, adownwardly and rearwardly angled funnel movable with the roller forguiding a binding strip between the apron and the stems of a bunch oftobacco leaves in said pocket, and a clip carried by the other end ofthe shaft and engaging over the adjacent edge of the apron for holdingthe apron against the roller and in line therewith, the other side ofthe bed being unobstructed throughout its entire length.

5. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising aframe, an arcuate bed upon the frame and having transversely disposedrecesses at each end thereof, a flexible apron of greater length thanthe bed and extending longitudinally above the bed, means connectingopposite ends of the apron to opposite ends of the bed, a leverfulcrumed upon the frame concentric with the bed, a roller journalledupon the lever to rotate above the bed and engaging the underside of theapron and forming a transverse pocket therein, said lever being arrangedfor moving the roller longitudinally over the bed for carrying saidpocket over the bed by said roller, a downwardly angled funnel inclinedtoward the roller and mounted upon the lever for guiding a binding stripbetween the apron and the stems of a bunch of tobacco leaves in saidpocket, and stop means adjacent one side of the bed for contacting theends of the stems.

6. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising aframe, an arcuate bed upon the frame and having transversely disposedrecesses at each end thereof, a flexible apron of greater length thanthe bed and extending longitudinally above the bed, means connectingopposite ends of the apron to opposite ends of the bed, a leverfulcrumed upon the frame concentric with the bed, a roller journalledupon the lever to rotate above the bed and engaging the underside of theapron and forming a transverse pocket therein, said lever being arrangedfor moving the roller longitudinally over the bed for carrying saidpocket over the bed by said roller, a pair of downwardly angled funnelsmounted upon the lever on opposite sides of the roller and inclinedtoward the roller for guiding a binding strip between the apron and thestems of a bundle of tobacco leaves in said pocket when the lever ismoved in either direction, and stop means adjacent one side of the bedfor contacting the ends of the stems.

7. Apparatus for binding tobacco leaves into bundles, comprising aframe, an arcuate bed upon the frame and having transversely disposedrecesses at each end thereof, a flexible apron of greater length thanthe bed and extending longitudinally above the bed, means connectingopposite ends of the apron to opposite ends of the bed, a leverfulcrumed upon the frame concentric with the bed, a roller journalledupon the lever to rotate above the bed and engaging the underside of theapron, and forming a transverse pocket therein, said lever beingarranged for moving the roller longitudinally over the bed for carryingsaid pocket over the bed by said roller, a downwardly angled funnelinclined toward the roller and mounted upon the lever for guiding abinding strip between the apron and the stems of a bunch of tobaccoleaves in said pocket, a stop disc between the lever and the adjacentend of the roller for contacting the ends of the stems of a bunch oftobacco leaves rolled in said pocket, and a clip adjacent the other endof the roller and engaging over the adjacent edge of the apron forholding the apron against the roller and in line therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS140,501 Hennaman July 1, 1873 484,819 Rabitte Oct. 25, 1892 537,097 WoodApr. 9, 1895 2,038,866 Whittles Apr. 23, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,795Germany Sept. 23, 1891 196,844 Great Britain May 3, 1923 529,931 GreatBritain Dec. 2, 1940

